State System: Cal U, Clarion and Edinboro to merge

By CHRISTINE HAINES
chaines@yourmvi.com

An integration plan to combine six state-owned universities, including California University of Pennsylvania, into two institutions was unanimously approved Wednesday.
The Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) approved the revised integration plan with the provision that none of the six campuses be closed. The vote means that California, Clarion, and Edinboro universities will come together to form a single university with three partner campuses in western Pennsylvania, while Bloomsburg, Lock Haven, and Mansfield universities will combine in the northeast.
“It is far more likely we will achieve sustainability through integration than on our own,” said Cal U Interim President Robert Thorn prior to the vote.
The most immediate change related to the integration came later in the quarterly meeting when the board named Dr. Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson as the interim president at Cal U as of Aug. 1, replacing Thorn. Thorn will step into a new role as senior vice president and chief operations officer (COO). In this role, he will serve on the presidential cabinet for implementation and continue as an integration team lead.
“I am proud to lead Cal U into a new era of service to the students, employers and communities of southwestern Pennsylvania and beyond,” Pehrsson said. “Strong academics, a beautiful campus and a heartfelt commitment to student success — California has it all. I look forward to getting to know the Cal U community even better, and I can’t wait to welcome our students when classes begin in August.”
Prior to the vote, PASSHE Chancellor Dan Greenstein assured current students the integration would not affect their academic plans.
“Current students and your parents: Should the board go forward with integration you will complete your degree and your major without disruption. You have my word,” Greenstein said.
Following the vote, Thorn gave that same assurance to Cal U students in a formal statement to the Cal U community.
“Rest assured that your current academic options remain the same, with exciting new opportunities on the horizon. You will be able to complete the program you’ve begun, and we’ve made it our mission to build even stronger pathways to support your timely graduation. The campus experience you’ve chosen will remain vibrant, complete with on-campus student services and supports designed to meet your academic and personal needs,” Thorn said.
Cindy Shapira, chair of the PASSHE Board of Governors, said the board received 1,000 written comments and heard eight hours of verbal comments during the public input period for the integration plan, with adaptations made to the plan based upon that input. Shapira said the vote is not a final act.
“This is just the beginning of the efforts of our administration, faculty and staff,” Shapira said.

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